Pumpkin Carving!

Well, I managed to get my house clean in time for Ryan and his high school sweetheart Ana's arrival. Was there ever any doubt? I even managed to get the Fall decorations in place!

Have I mentioned that I REALLY LOVE Fall !?!?!?

We started off our weekend by pumpkin carving on Friday night. KayLi wasn't sure about the pumpkin guts at first...

but she soon discovered that that slimy can be fun! Especially when she learned you can eat the raw pumpkin...a gross!

Our friends daughter was over for the evening and these two little sweeties really wanted to join in. Ummm...sharp tools and toddlers....let's just say they are both adopted and we didn't want to have to explain anything to their social workers :0)

Emily saved the night by showing them how to pock holes in the scraps from her pumpkin. Safe enough for a social worker! Em's such a good Jie Jie.

Most of us used patterns but Ryan couldn't find one he liked, so he decided to be original.

You never would have guessed that Ana had never carved a pumpkin before. She was a pro!

KayLi really loved the pumpkin that "we" made. She did help clean out those slimy guts remember!

Em's turned out very cute. Just like her!

Ryan's non-pattern was his "signature." Yep, that's my boy!

Allie's, well...he didn't use a pattern either.

Ana's turned out as adorable as she is. It looked very cute lite!

Here's Emily's.

And Ana's and KayLi's. I told you Ana's was cute lite!

Ok, Allie's did turn out cute once it was lite. I just can't help but think he was going for a self portrait in pumpkin form.

Hopefully I'll have a chance later tonight to post about Saturday night's Fall Festival. But right now the people I live with are really hoping I will make dinner.



A little note about the Happy Face Balloon picture in the last post. We had bought KayLi a couple helium balloons last weekend. The Happy Face balloon was starting to loose helium and do some serious hovering. You're right Kristi it was a little freaky...but funny!

He Makes Me Smile!!!!

They're Here!!!

Aren't they cute!!!!

Procrastination

I need to clean.
The house is dusty.
Seriously, you could sign the coffee table and call it a guest book.
I haven't vacuumed in longer than I'm willing to admit.
Laundry is piled up but laundry is ALWAYS piled up.
My sink is even full of dishes...gross!
We've been busy!!!

Once all that is done, I would love to finally put up the Fall decorations.
I LOVE Fall!
I love my Fall decorations.
I love the cooler weather.
I love the promise of much cooler weather!
I love the changes it brings.
I love how everyone comes in to hibernate.
I don't love to clean!

All I really want to do is play!!!
I/we NEED a play day!!!
I'm trying really hard to justify playing all day.
If I pat KayLi's back with each syllable I speak can I call it speech therapy?
I'll ask her lots of questions that require more than a yes or no answer.
I'll encourage her to put her teeth together and say lots of "S" words!
Really, it would be sooo much more than just playing.

Aaahhhh, but I have to clean.
Not just because there is cleaning to be done.
There are two wonderful people coming tomorrow.
People that I love, even more than playing.
People that deserve my house to feel warm and welcoming.
Once they are here, we will play all weekend!
I can't wait!!!!

So, I'll go clean.
In my head all I hear is...
"I don't WAAANNNAAA!"
I may be cleaning but I'm whining on the inside!

I wonder if KayLi wants to Du-sssst or Vac-uum?




Sorry I haven't posted about speech therapy yet. We started last week and I keep forgetting my camera. LOVE IT!!! I'll post about it when my house is a little cleaner.

Sorry too about the totally unrelated picture of KayLi. I decided it was much cuter than a picture of cleaning supplies!!!

Sweet But Not So Innocent

Last Sunday as we were leaving for church, I just HAD to stop and grab my camera. KayLi looked so cute! Her pink dress and shoes were new and the little sweater we found in China matched it perfectly.

I couldn't help but think that she looked so sweet and innocent!

Yep she's sweet alright but she is not so innocent. Trust me looks can be deceiving.

She may look like she is just sitting there, leaning against the laundry room door and calmly playing her little recorder. But on the other side of the door that...

her sister is screaming "Move KayLi! MOOOOOMMMMM, she won't let me out!!!!"

So of coarse I just HAD to grab my camera, to record this loving sisterly exchange before I asked KayLi to move.

Oh and just for the record, KayLi couldn't play with toys like this recorder or blow raspberries (called serberts around here) before her palate surgery. While she could blow bubbles without any problems these two things were very difficult. The air she would try and blow out her mouth would almost always come out her nose.

Now she's a pro! From what I understand all of the "blowing" toys and games are great for strengthening her palate. I never in a million years thought I would be intentionally looking for a whistle for one of my children but I am. Maybe we'll just blow extra bubbles!!!

It's Only Junior High School

Sometimes you turn around and wonder how your children seemed to grow up so quickly. You can't believe they have breezed through another stage of childhood and you are left feeling like maybe you missed something. Shouldn't they still be playing with Barbies or Ninja Turtles? Weren't they just asking for piggy back rides yesterday.

Then there are times when you see it clearly. You know it's happening before your eyes but you're helpless to do anything about it. When you are watching them change and know deep in your soul that things will never be the same. Times when you want to scream "Stop! I'm not ready yet!" Or beg "Please slow down a little."

This is one of those times.

Everything in me wants to beg and scream and somehow put on the brakes of life. Emily is simply growing up way too fast these days.

The logical me says "It's just junior high. She's just playing the saxophone. She isn't leaving for college yet." But the Mama in me knows. Oh, she knows and she isn't happy about it.

Maybe if you all chant with me "It's only junior high school. It's only junior high school." Then she will magically stop growing up and remain my little girl forever and ever.

Yeah. If that worked I would have chanted "It's only five pounds." years ago!!!

I would appreciate a little prayer though. I can be pitiful sometimes.

Faith in Four Words

Excitement.

Doubt.

Trust.

Blessed!